Behavior Management Games

Behavioral management games teach people how to modify their behavior so their behavior becomes productive and socially acceptable. Individuals who struggle with unruly behavior can develop new strategies and techniques that focus on building self-control, empathy for others, social skills and positive decision-making. Behavioral modification therapy often involves group work that promotes cooperation, active listening, anger management and, most importantly, teamwork. Reinforcing socially acceptable behavior with a reward system is an effective method therapists use to increase the likelihood that negative behaviors may change into positive behaviors that will benefit the individual and people in the community.

Anger Management Games

• Emotions vary in people depending on how a person reacts to various situations they encounter. A strong emotion that everyone has felt in their life is anger. Some people simply become annoyed while others become violently enraged. How a person expresses their anger can become a concern if it hurts other people or themselves. Anger management games help people recognize their anger and teaches them coping skills to help them express their anger in a constructive way. One anger management game is called Luck of the Roll, which involves every player taking turns rolling a dice. Prizes for the players are determined by what number the players roll. The players' reactions to winning and losing are observed by a therapist. A heavy group discussion follows that is centered around their reactions.

Cooperation Games

• Cooperation games involves people working together as a team. These games usually involve some type of competition between teams in the group so that the members in the group must work harder to cooperate. One cooperation game is called The Prisoner's Dilemma. This game requires the group to form two teams, which then have to chose between either strategy "A" or "B." The team leaders have to meet each other to negotiate which letter they will chose. Then the leaders go back to their groups to discuss which one they will pick. Rules to the game are based on the fact that if both teams pick letter "A," both teams will score 0, if both teams chose "B," then both teams will score 2, and if one team chooses "A" and the other team chooses "B," then the scores are 4 and 0. The therapist analyzes the teams to see if they will double-cross their opposing team. The exercise is repeated several times and the entire group discusses the results at the end.

Communication Games

• Communication games focus on participation, trust and commitment. They also touch on verbal communication and active listening. The groups learn to work together to accomplish a set goal. Mine Field is an example of a communication game. This game requires group members to form into pairs. One member of the pair is blindfolded. There are certain objects scattered on the floor, and with verbal communication from a partner, the blindfolded person must navigate to these objects and pick them up.

Team Building Games

• Effective communication, cooperation, managing one's own feelings constructively and team work are the critical skills needed when working in a group. These skills benefit each individual in the group as they work as a team. One team-building activity played is called Create Your Own Group Activity. This game involves all the members of the group discussing and then designing their own activity. It also involves planning and shared team effort. The group makes a presentation at the end. It is critical that the group works together in order to complete this project.